Vivendi Universal's former chief executive Jean-Marie Messier is a bitter man. He has written a book called My True Diary - a scathing attack on his former associates, blaming them for his downfall an ...
Vivendi Universal's former chief executive Jean-Marie Messier is a bitter man. He has written a book called My True Diary - a scathing attack on his former associates, blaming them for his downfall and Vivendi's failings.
One man is singled out above all others - Claude Bebear, the founder of AXA Insurance. Messier accuses Bebear of orchestrating a campaign among various investors to "deliberately destabilise" his efforts to save Vivendi.
He paints a lurid picture of Bebear: "The great lion-killer had gone into action. During a five-month long tracking expedition, he wouldn't let up on his prey - `Down with Vivendi Universal. Out with Messier'."
Can these Machiavellian antics really be the actions of an insurance man? Answers on a postcard...
